Arroz Tapado (Rice on top)

This meal was so fun to make. I was apprehensive about my ability to "stack" the ingredients but it turned out quite easy. This recipe severed just three people so adjust accordingly.

2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup rice

I set to water, olive oil & salt to boil and added the rice. Boil until tender and the water is absorbed.


In a separate pan I cook throughly
1/2 pound of ground beef
1/4 pound of mild sausage.
Add in onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper.

When the meat is cooked add in veggies.

 I used broccoli and yellow & orange carrots. (peas, beans & corn can also be used.) Also add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. (Don't be scared, its delicious. Unless you are allergic. Then please omit this step.)

To stack the rice & meat I used an 8 ounce plastic container. (It was a small sour cream container.) I put a few drops of olive oil into the container & moved it around to coat the bottom & the edges.



I then put a layer of rice & pressed it down. Then a layer of meat & press. Lastly a layer of rice again & compressed it down. I put a plate on top of the container & flipped. The container will lift right off.

I served with sauteed asparagus.

Red Beans and Rice and Sausage and WOW! (Oh! and tomatoes and onions.)

I go to allrecipes.com & type in a few things I have in the kitchen. I don't want to go to the store & I am not feeling particularly creative tonight. Hmmmm, mild sausage, half a green pepper & too small of an onion to measure.
(Digging deeper in the cupboard of abandoned foodstuff) Rice!  

In a saucepan put 1 3/4 cups of water a dash of olive oil & salt. Bring to a boil. Add 1 cup of rice & let boil for 5 minutes. (Or until you can see the top of the rice. Turn off heat & let the rice soak up the remaining water.

While the rice is boiling put 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a skillet or frying pan and bring to medium heat. You can tell when oil is if you get your fingers wet & flick water onto the hot oil. You will hear a sizzling sound. 

Add the sausage to your oil & cook for 5 minutes. Then add peppers & onions, saute until tender. Add can of red beans.Season with cyan pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper & cumin.

Cover and Set to Simmer for 15 minutes. Serve over rice for a delicious (box free) dinner in 30 minutes.

Jambalaya (Box mixes need not apply)

Though a guy playing the saxophone while I stir would be cool.

I can't wait to try this out. It smells so spicy & good. 
I chose a recipe that is mild on the "kick" factor. 




2 teaspoons olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 ounces medium Italian sausage (or kielbasa if you don't like a lot of spice)
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper. diced
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups uncooked white rice
4 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Heat oil in a large pot over medium high heat. 
Saute chicken and kielbasa until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. 

n with cayenne, onion popper. Cook 5 minutes, or until onion is tender and translucent

Add rice, then stir in chicken stock. 

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, or until rice is tender. 
Stir in the Worcestershire sauce.

Every jambalaya recipe I read was different. 

Please do not take my recipe as the all that jambalaya has to offer recipe. I fused together several recipes that I thought sounded delicious. I added & omitted ingredients that another jambalaya maker would probably consider blasphemy. 

So please, be creative, do what you think your family would love.

Traditionally you serve vegetable sticks with jambalaya. Carrot and celery sticks help with the heat.  I also served with salad and ranch dressing.